Analytical and clinical performance of a Chikungunya qRT-PCR for Central and South America

Edwards, Thomas, del Carmen Castillo Signor, Leticia, Williams, Chris, Larcher, Clement, Espinel, Mauricio, Theaker, Jane, Donis, Evelin, Cuevas, Luis ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6581-0587 and Adams, Emily ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0816-2835 (2017) 'Analytical and clinical performance of a Chikungunya qRT-PCR for Central and South America'. Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Vol 89, Issue 1, pp. 35-39.

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Abstract

Chikungunya was introduced into the Americas in 2015 causing a pandemic across the continent. Testing during the acute phase of infection relies on qRT-PCR, but available assays have a number of limitations. A qRT-PCR assay specific to the chikungunya E1 gene was designed using sequence data from contemporary strains. A probit analysis established the 95% limit of detection as 19.6 copies per reaction. We compared the assay with a US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) chikungunya qRT-PCR as the reference standard. The assay had a sensitivity and specificity of 98.4% and 100% in 90 samples retrospectively collected in Guatemala. In a further 74 febrile samples prospectively collected in Ecuador and Guatemala the test had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 98.4%, respectively. Sequencing the nsp4 gene of the discordant positive sample indicated the presence of chikungunya RNA, and mismatches to the primer binding sites of the CDC assay.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QW Microbiology and Immunology > Viruses > QW 160 Viruses (General). Virology QX Parasitology > QX 20 Research (General) QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 510 Mosquitoes WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries
Faculty: Department:	Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2017.06.001
Depositing User:	Stacy Murtagh
Date Deposited:	28 Jun 2017 11:35
Last Modified:	15 Jun 2018 09:50
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/7259

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